2020 ACSW Conference Workshop Descriptions & Presenter Bio's

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ACSW 2020 Annual Conference Connect. Explore. Grow.

Workshop Descriptions & Presenter Biographies Friday AM Keynote 1 Justice-Doing & Collective Resistance Vikki Reynolds, MA, PhD, RCC Drawing on her experience in activism, Vikki Reynolds, a registered clinical counsellor, will present how she ties structural social justice work into her life. Vikki will address our collective commitment to justice-doing and our struggles that stem from an unjust world. How can we weave our collective resistance to structural oppression?

We will look at our collective accountability to work in ways that resist replicating oppression and aim to deliver justice to the persons we work alongside, and to "walk our talk".

We will acknowledge the darkness of mean and hate-filled politics, and the suffering of "messed-with human beings" alongside luminous stories of everyday resistance. Threads from our community work, social movements, and the immeasurable outcomes of our work alongside persons struggling to keep a fingerhold on dignity combine to build our resistance.

Vikki is an instructor and registered clinical counsellor from Vancouver. She has a deep commitment to social justice and her work is based on an anti-oppression and decolonization framework. She plays a leading role in building communities in a spirit of solidarity, putting ethics at the forefront. Her work addresses addiction, substance misuse, diversity, homelessness, trauma and violence. Vikki is informed by narrative and collaborative therapies. She provides individual and group clinical supervision to therapists and community workers. She facilitates workshops and delivers keynote speeches to audiences with an interest in transforming community work. Find more about Vikki at vikkireynolds.ca

Friday AM 2 Justice-Doing & Collective Resistance: A Deeper Conversation Vikki Reynolds, MA, PhD, RCC In this workshop, we will take a deeper look at the ideas and practices covered in the keynote presentation.

Participants will be invited to connect with their own ethical stance and influences. We will examine collective ethics and how best to enact ethics as a path to sustainability and a way to resist the spiritual pain of encountering affronts to our collective ethics. We’ll explore how to create accountability to shoulder each other up, and create sustainability in the paid and unpaid work across our lifespan. We will consider what our work has meant for us, our hopes, and how all of this can help keep those we are walking alongside at the centre of our care.

Vikki is an instructor and registered clinical counsellor from Vancouver. She has a deep commitment to social justice and her work is based on an anti-oppression and decolonization framework. She plays a leading role in building communities in a spirit of solidarity, putting ethics at the forefront. Her work addresses addiction, substance misuse, diversity, homelessness, trauma and violence. Vikki is informed by narrative and collaborative therapies. She provides individual and group clinical supervision to therapists and community workers. She facilitates workshops and delivers keynote speeches to audiences with an interest in transforming community work. Find more about Vikki at vikkireynolds.ca

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Shame Resilience for Social Workers Heather Mackay, MSW, RCSW This research-based workshop provides an alternative perspective and a concrete plan for times when we feel “I’m not a good enough social worker.”

Heather Mackay Heather Mackay is the grandchild of settlers from Ukraine and Scotland who immigrated to Alberta about 100 years ago. Heather has been a social worker since 1998 and an RCSW since 2016. Heather has a clinical private practice in Edmonton, counselling people of all ages individually and in relationships. Her interest in Brené Brown began in 2011 and since then she has used Dr. Brown’s original grounded theory in groups and individual counselling. Heather has been a partner and stepmother since 1997 and a mother since 2001. She currently has three teen girls at home and so uses shame resilience daily.

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Harm Reduction: Your Ideology Versus My Science Esther Leung, MSW, RSW Michael Lee, MN, BScN, NP, RN This workshop explores harm reduction in a thorough examination of the research and evidence to address common objections, myths and misconceptions.

Esther Leung Esther is a social worker for the Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) team, focusing on providing consultation services for inpatients and outpatients at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. She has been recognized for her contributions to affordable housing and ending homelessness in Edmonton and has presented at a number of conferences and workshops on topics including harm reduction, social determinants of health, alternative decisionmaking, and evidence-based holistic care. Through her work she has gained a strong knowledge in working with the inner city population to address issues surrounding addictions, mental health concerns and social determinants of health.

Michael Lee Michael is a nurse practitioner working on the ARCH Team on the Inner City Health and Wellness Program at an Inner City hospital. His role is to help address health inequities to those living in the inner city and connect them with appropriate resources and bridge and guide them through the process. He has always had a keen interest in substance use and addiction. His career has primary been focused on addictions and mental health for the past 7 years. His training has brought him to places like Hazelden Treatment Centre, now the Betty Ford Centre, to gain more insight and see the spectrum of treatment.

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Trans 101: Defining the System Aakhil Lakhani Franki Harrogate, Masters of Counselling Psychology This presentation will increase service providers’ competency in working with transgender clients by offering the basic language of gender as well as exploring barriers to accessing vital social services.

Aakhil Lakhani Aakhil Lakhani is a social services worker that specializes in mental health. They are particularly passionate about serving the LGBTQ2S+ population and the BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) community. They are a trans, Muslim, PoC whose activism centres on dismantling systems of oppression including white supremacy, the patriarchy, and heteronormativity. Aakhil has lived experience navigating the medical and social healthcare systems, whose access poses significant barriers for individuals occupying multiple marginalized identities, and works to support others in doing the same.

Franki Harrogate Franki is a registered provisional psychologist and activist who completed their master’s degree in counselling psychology at Athabasca University. Born in Amiskwaciy Wâskahikan, they continue to reside and work here. Franki is

a non-binary white settler, who strives to use their privilege(s) to centre the voices, experiences, and issues faced by BIPoC seeking to access mental health services. Their research focuses on the role of psychologists in unpacking and dismantling mental health practices that contribute to upholding and reproducing oppression against targeted populations.

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Preparing for Trauma Treatment - Practical Strategies to Help Clients Shelley Carnahan, MSW, RSW Learn strategies and concepts for practicing trauma work. Learn about the "window of tolerance" and ways to meet the client where they are. This also supports work with clients who are "stuck" or "flooded" due to trauma.

Shelley Carnahan Shelley has worked as a clinical social worker at the Edmonton Mental Health Clinic for fifteen years and has a private practice. She works with complex clients and her main focus is trauma work. She uses EMDR and is an Approved Consultant in this modality. She has extensive clinical experience and is pleased to share her experience with others.

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Growing Your Anti-Oppressive Practice Jana Boehm, MSW, RSW This session is for anyone who's passionate about anti-oppressive practice but has struggled with its practical application. We'll create a plan together.

Jana Boehm Jana is an intersectional feminist, advocate, and critical thinker who loves to learn, challenge herself and explore the unknown. Jana graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Calgary in 2011, and in 2013, travelled to Dalhousie University to complete her Master of Social Work. There she dove into anti-oppressive theory, practice and the process of (un)learning. Jana enjoys reading, being active, and engaging in dynamic conversations around dominant social discourse within systems of privilege and oppression. She hopes to continually be a part of anti-oppressive change within herself, social work, and community in pursuit of a truly just society.

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Men’s Experiences of Domestic Abuse – Needs and Challenges Stefan de Villiers, MSW, RSW This workshop offers recommendations for assessing and working with men who have experienced domestic abuse in their intimate partner relationships in a clinical setting.

Stefan de Villiers Stefan is an experienced workshop facilitator on masculinity, gender, and domestic violence. Stefan has led a workshop as part of the Experiencing Masculinities Symposium at the University of Calgary, and has been a copresenter for a Photovoice project on safety, wellness, belonging and place among trans, two-spirit, and gender nonconforming people at numerous conferences in BC. Past presentations also include being a panellist on Positive Masculinities, a conversation hosted at City University, Vancouver, BC. As a social worker, Stefan has facilitated therapy groups with men who have perpetrated as well as experienced abuse in their intimate partner relationships.

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Transforming Mental Health Practice in Schools: An Evidence-Based Approach Sarah McGreer, MSW, RSW Leslie Roper, MSc Psychiatry Jessica Rolls, BA Explore strategies for implementing trauma-informed school environments, learn treatment interventions for trauma survivors and develop deeper self-care practice, at individual and organizational levels.

Sarah McGreer As a school-based mental health therapist, Sarah McGreer delivers workshops to Edmonton Public Schools on Trauma-Informed Practice, with the goal of creating a trauma-informed school culture and providing evidence-based

therapy to students and their families. Sarah blends dialectical behaviour therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy interventions for students at risk of developing mental health disorders due to traumatic life experiences, and uses Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) research in psychoeducation. Sarah has an MSW from the University of Calgary and has worked in Edmonton schools for the past eight years.

Leslie Roper Leslie Roper has an MSc in Psychiatry from the University of Alberta. Her master’s work focused on precipitating factors to the onset of psychosis, in particular, cannabis use and adverse childhood experiences. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as a research coordinator in the Precision Mental Health and Addictions Lab at the University of Alberta.

In this role, she helped to facilitate a large scale study of mental health and addictions, studying how these two concepts interact in individuals. She is currently a student in the Master of Counselling program at Athabasca University.

Jessica Rolls Jessica Rolls has a BA in Psychology from the University of Alberta. Jessica provides mental health intervention for high school students experiencing complex diagnoses, addictions and psychosocial challenges using strengths-based and evidence-based practice. She provides innovative and adaptive programming, strategies, and environments to promote academic success for students within a trauma-informed culture. Jessica facilitates psychoeducational workshops and consults with community partners and school staff regarding strategies for working with complex trauma. In her role, she facilitates universal mental health promotion to enhance school mental health wellness.

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Social Work Practicum: A Review of Best and Promising Practices Peter Choate, PhD, RCSW Gaye Warthe, PhD, RSW Yasmin Dean, PhD, RSW Field education is essential in preparing students for social work practice, linking theory to practice, exploring how decision making occurs, and modelling effective practice, including through simulation.

Peter Choate Peter Choate is a registered clinical social worker, an approved clinical supervisor for the Alberta College of Social Workers and an assistant professor at Mount Royal University, Department of Child Studies and Social Work. He also serves as Field Director for Practicum. His particular emphasis is on assessing parenting capacity (with specialties in mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and addictions) and child and adolescent mental health including maltreatment, neglect and abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and these issues within family systems. His research focus is on the intersection between Indigenous peoples and the child welfare system.

Gaye Warthe Dr. Gaye Watson Warthe is the Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Health, Community and Education at Mount Royal University. Gaye has served as chair of the Social Work program and as interim Associate Vice-President. Gaye’s research interests include dating, domestic and sexual violence, the prevention of relationship violence in post-secondary and the use of simulation in social work education. Gaye is a member of the Registration Committee with the Alberta College of Social Workers and incoming president of the Board of Directors of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.

Yasmin Dean Yasmin Dean is an associate professor of social work and the chair of the Department of Child Studies and Social Work at Mount Royal University. She is passionate about working across cultures and social work field education. Her scholarship has a strong focus on international education initiatives.

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Social Workers and Social Justice in Government Practice Jesse Orjasaeter, BEd A call-to-action for social workers employed by government, and an exploration of the role government social workers have in fulfilling their social justice mandate.

Jesse Orjasaeter Following experience as a teacher in the UK with teenagers on the autism spectrum, family coach at a local autism service provider, and a research assistant in the area of autism, Jesse has continued to apply a critical lens to his vocation. Since the completion of a practicum at the Government of Alberta exploring the social worker’s role in a government context, he has been employed as an Advocate Representative at the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities. Jesse is currently completing a thesis for the Master of Social Work program at the University of Calgary (Edmonton campus).

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Care in Custody: OC Spray and Segregation in Young Offender Centres Arlene Eaton-Erickson, MSW, RSW Information from the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Alberta about their recent report on OC spray and segregation in Alberta’s young offender centres.

Arlene Eaton-Erickson Arlene has been a social worker for 23 years and is currently the Manager of Intake, Outreach and Systemic Advocacy with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA). She has been with the OCYA for 14 years in a number of different roles. Prior to this she was with Child and Family Services (Human Services) as a front-line worker and supervisor from 1996-2004. Arlene is also a sessional instructor with the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work and MacEwan University.

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Debunking the Myths of Working with Military, Veterans and RCMP Judith O’Leary, MSW, RSW Gail Hogarth, MSW, RSW Suzanne Triance-Wright, MSW, RSW Debunking myths regarding working with military, veterans, and RCMP in order to help people better understand how to work with them and with their families.

Judith O’Leary Judith has been a social worker for over 25 years. She worked with street involved youth in Ottawa, then in pediatric oncology for six years and has been working with still-serving military members, veterans and RCMP for seven years.

She also has a private practice where she works with people who have experienced trauma in their lives.

Gail Hogarth Gail has been working in the mental health field doing different roles for the past 13 years. She is currently working at Alberta Health Services: Operational Stress Injury Clinic as a mental health therapist. During the past eight years, she has worked with still-serving military members, veterans, and RCMP. Suzanne Triance-Wright Suzanne has worked for Veterans Affairs Canada for the past 15.5 years and is currently a case manager working at the Edmonton Garrison Office at CFB Edmonton. Suzanne works with still-serving members preparing to medically release from the Armed Forces and with released military and RCMP members struggling with successful reestablishment into civilian life. Suzanne completed her MSW with Clinical Specialization in April 2019 and did her MSW practicum at the Edmonton Operational Stress Injury Clinic.

Friday PM 14 Crisis Response Planning Kristen Deuzeman, Registered Provisional Psychologist, MEd This presentation gives a snapshot of how to organize effectively and quickly at a time of crisis so that groups are better prepared to respond to the emotional needs of those affected.

Kristen Deuzeman In addition to training with the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute, Kristen is a registered provisional psychologist who has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychological Assessment. She is the manager for professional best practices within the Centre for Applied Disaster and Emergency Management at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and a professor of psychology at Concordia University. Kristen has led teams to achieve successful outcomes in both public and private sectors. She believes that who we are is how we lead and encourages self-examination and awareness as these are key to leading with strength, confidence, and emotional stamina for organizational resilience. As a trainer, Kristen combines her experience in psychological research and clinical work to enhance self-discovery and skill development. She is a passionate facilitator who incorporates warmth and humour in order to create engaging and meaningful workshops.

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Eleven Strategies to Improve Social Work Practice with LGBTQ People Kristy Harcourt, MSW, RSW Centring diverse perspectives and discussing common barriers to service, this workshop will equip participants with practical strategies to improve service delivery with LGBTQ people and communities.

Kristy Harcourt Kristy Harcourt (she/her) is an educator and consultant specializing in systems navigation and organizational change to improve service outcomes related to gender and sexual diversity. She is also a sessional instructor and field education coordinator at MacEwan University in Social Work and in Gender Studies. A 2019 University of Calgary MSW graduate, her capstone focused on heteronormativity and LGBTQ inclusion in social work education. Kristy has worked with communities across Alberta on human rights and violence prevention initiatives. She is nerdy about many issues including older child adoption, disability justice, community care, queer and trans thriving, and fat activism.

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Our Diverse Social Work Practices: A Pecha Kucha Style Workshop This fast-paced, interactive workshop will cover an interesting variety of fields of practice and social work innovation using a storytelling format and will include a question and answer period.

Titles of presentations: Social Return on Engagement: How Engagement has Exponential Effects – Amelia Larson, MSW, RSW, BASc Introducing the Alberta Chapter of the International Association for Social Work with Groups – William Pelech, PhD, RSW Adverse Childhood Experiences and Anxiety Disorders in Wood’s Homes Clients – Michele Wellsby, PhD Emergency Room Outreach: The First Year in Review – Megan Brown, BA Whose Downtown?: The Story of a Social Recycling Community Initiative – Jesse Orjasaeter, BEd Preventing Violent Extremism through Frontline and Community Development Social Work – Landon Turlock, BSW, RSW Understanding Diversity – The Queer Experience and its Impact on Practice – Gilbert Drapeau, BSW, RSW

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Elder Abuse and Cross-Cultural Practice Garima Khatri, BSc, MSW, RSW, CCW, CIRS Emma Potter Come learn about elder abuse and how we are responding collaboratively across sectors. We will also discuss social injustices faced by ethnocultural communities.

Garima Khatri Garima Khatri works as a social worker in the Community Geriatric Psychiatry Program at Covenant Health, and in the Helplines Program at the Canadian Mental Health Association. She holds a Master of Social Work with Clinical Specialization from the University of Calgary (U of C), and wrote her capstone project on forensic therapy in a corrections setting. She was recognized by the U of C with two Recognition of Excellence Awards for her activities in the areas of family violence and elder abuse prevention and intervention and cross cultural practice, and geriatric psychiatry. She has spoken at the Diverse Voices Family Violence Conference, the FACE IT: Elder Abuse Happens Conference, and is speaking at the national Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention Conference in October 2019.

Emma Potter Emma Potter has worked with the 211 program at the Canadian Mental Health Association since 2012. She started as an information and referrals specialist and worked her way up to manager of the Help Lines Program supervising both the 211 program and 24/7 distress line. She is a Certified AIRS Community Resource Specialist as well as a Certified Crisis Worker with the American Association of Sociology.

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Empowering and Enhancing Autonomy: Open Adoption Erika Moore, BSW, RSW Heather Johnson, SW Dip, BHSc, RSW Mackenzie Godlien, BSW, RSW An introduction to open adoption that aims to confront myths, biases, and misconceptions. Engage in critical thinking about the importance of accurate information when facing unplanned pregnancy or parenting challenges.

Erika Moore Erika Moore has been a social worker for over 10 years, and has worked with open adoption since 2012. Her passion for this work is rooted in the values of autonomy and choice, and she believes strongly in the importance of truth and transparency at all stages of the adoption experience. Erika’s role involves offering information, education, and ongoing support for all members of the adoption triad, and she takes particular joy in the relational nature of this practice. Erika’s work is further informed by the lived experience of being a birthparent.

Heather Johnson Heather Johnson (she/her) is a registered social worker who has spent her career working in various fields of social work including youth at risk, mental health and addictions, HIV/AIDS, family support, adoptions, and is currently a social worker at the Alberta College of Social Workers. Heather is passionate about helping people understand that heart is a part of open adoption.

Mackenzie Godlien Mackenzie (she/ her) is a social worker at Adoption Options in the Calgary office. Prior to recently joining the Adoption Options team, Mackenzie worked with youth and in family support. Mackenzie feels very grateful to have found her passion in adoption, and has a strong admiration for the incredible birth families and adoptive families she works with.

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Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice: What is it Really About?

Kathleen Gorman, MSW, RSW, BSc, LLM, CTTS, SEP Trauma-informed practice (TIP) is considered a best practice. This workshop will explore and reflect on what TIP embodies and how it fits with social work practice.

Kathleen Gorman Kathleen is of Irish and Maliseet descent and follows Mohawk teachings after her adoption into a Mohawk family.

She has worked in the fields of trauma, mental health/addictions, and domestic/sexual violence for more than 38 years. She has an MSW in clinical practice, is a Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist, and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Kathleen is a sessional instructor for the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work and social work field coordinator/sessional at MacEwan University, provides individual/group counselling at Aboriginal Counseling Services and has a private practice. She has presented internationally on many topics including trauma-informed care, self-care and vicarious trauma, and impacts of colonization.

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Indigenous Informed Trauma - Putting Reconciliation into Reality Brenda St. Germain, MSW, RSW Content of workshop will expand comfort levels as material presented re-views trauma from an Indigenous experience and is combined with the neuroscience of PTSD and its symptoms Brenda St. Germain Brenda St. Germain is a Métis Cree woman from central Alberta and follows nēhiyawak epistemology in her social work practice. She completed her MSW with an Indigenous Specialization at University of Victoria. Brenda has a unique and diverse background in social work, administration and trades. Her advocacy for improvements in mental health, housing, education and employment has evolved into her keen ability to comprehend complex environments with an insightful perspective that can link social policies, procedures and legislation between mainstream systems and Indigenous terrains. Brenda is owner of Mellow Star Consulting with her private practice located in Red Deer.

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Redefining Poverty Paula Cornell, MSW, RSW What if our current definition of poverty is leading us to the wrong solutions? In this highly interactive workshop, participants explore how alternative definitions invite us to address old problems with new ideas.

Paula Cornell Paula Cornell is a facilitator, social worker, and is currently an instructor at NorQuest College in the Community Support Work program. She recently graduated with her Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University. Paula worked for 10 years at The Mustard Seed and The Neighbour Centre with people experiencing poverty and homelessness. She is passionate about facilitating opportunities for discussion around ending poverty using an assetbased community development approach.

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No Such Thing as a Bully: Redefining Bullying Kelly Karius, BSW, RSW Redefining the problem of bullying, this progressive and thoughtful session brings practical skills that social workers can use immediately in their work in any role.

Kelly Karius Kelly Karius is an award-winning social worker, mediator and author who is committed to her mission of improving the lives she is able to affect. Her books include: “This is Out of Control! A Practical Guide to Managing Life’s Conflicts”, “The Brief Book of Parenting”, “Burgerslinger”, and “No Such Thing as a Bully - Shred the Label, Save a Child.” Kelly is also a founder of The Moment of Kindness Foundation.

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Clinical Registry – Achieving the Credential towards Advanced Practice Rebecca Stares, MSW, RCSW Suzanne MacKinnon, MSW, RCSW Come learn more about the Clinical Registry and how to attain the credential of RCSW while meeting members of the Clinical Registry and the Clinical Committee.

Rebecca Stares Rebecca Stares is a registered clinical social worker specializing in mental health interventions using equine-assisted therapy. Rebecca has been in private practice for the last 10 years, working as both a clinician and a social work supervisor in Calgary and area. In addition to her clinical work, Rebecca is currently completing her PhD with the University of Calgary.

Suzanne MacKinnon Suzanne studied social work at Jane Addams College of Social Work in Chicago and has worked in forensic clinical social work and community development in Colorado and British Columbia. She takes particular interest in nontraditional social work and multi-disciplinary collaborative practice to improve the functioning of individuals, families, systems and society. Suzanne is the associate registrar with the Alberta College of Social Workers, and is excited to share her passion and experience with others.

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The Process is the Outcome: De-Colonizing Social Work Through Experiential Learning Jane Slessor, MSW, RSW, BA Ken Armstrong Howard Mustus Jr. This interactive presentation will explore an Indigenous Cultural Helper’s experience in working with a housing support program and review social work research that examines the impacts of this work.

Jane Slessor Jane Slessor is a white settler occupier and social worker in Amiskwaciy Wâskahikan in Treaty Six territory. She has been a social worker for 15 years. Much of her career has been spent in the inner city working closely with former students of the Indian Residential School (IRS) System who are experiencing homelessness. Jane recently completed her master's degree in clinical social work. Her thesis focused on how settler social workers can work more effectively with Indigenous housing clients.

Ken Armstrong Ken Armstrong is the Oskapewis/Indigenous Cultural Helper with Homeward Trust Edmonton (HTE). Ken grew up in Winnipeg on Treaty One Territory. He is a Fontaine on his Mom’s side and a member of Sagkeeng First Nation. Ken has been working with people experiencing homelessness for over 14 years and with HTE for over two years. Ken has worked as a Cultural Facilitator in a Housing First program and as an IRS Resolution Health Support Worker. Ken is also an accomplished photographer and beautifully tells the stories of the people he meets with his photography.

Howard Mustus Jr. Howard Mustus Jr. is from and lives in Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. He works as an Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Worker. He is deeply involved in his own community and provides support to the homeless community and several Permanent Supportive Housing buildings in Edmonton through Homeward Trust Edmonton.

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See the Signs - Suicide Awareness Dawne Adkins, SW Dip, RSW This session focuses on reducing the stigma around suicide, building awareness skills and encouraging open communication with those who are struggling.

Dawne Adkins Dawne Adkins is an educator and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist at Suicide Information and Education Services in Red Deer and Central Alberta. Her involvement with the organization began over 25 years ago and throughout that time, she has been honoured to share information with a variety of groups and journey through grief with many individuals. She believes that suicide prevention is not about saving lives; it's about empowering people to choose life.

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Bounce, Don’t Break ... Daring Strategies for Resilience and Self-Care Alana Peters, BA, BEd, CEC, PCC Learn a new mindset and skills to reduce anxiety so you can provide more "sustainable caring.” Take away strategies for sustainability and resilience, plus research-based tools for courageous social work practice.

Alana Peters Alana Peters, facilitator, coach and educator, has spent over twenty-five years equipping and inspiring adults and children. Diverse and challenging life experiences including abandonment, infertility, chronic illness, disability and adoption enable Alana to bring a unique presence and voice to her workshops. She is a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator delivering research-based material created by Brené Brown; a graduate of the University of Regina, BA and BEd. She also graduated from Royal Roads University with her Master’s Certificate in Executive Coaching and is a professional certified coach with the International Coach Federation.

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Exploring Recent Changes to the Standards of Practice Bruce Llewellyn, MSW, RSW Sheryl Pearson, MSW, RSW, LLB Learn about the history and legislative background of the ACSW Standards of Practice (2019). In November 2018, the government introduced Bill 21, which came into effect on April 1, 2019. This workshop will refresh and update your knowledge on the Standards.

Bruce Llewellyn Bruce joined the Alberta Association of Social Workers in 1984. After retiring from government service, he joined the ACSW as a staff member in October 2013. As one of the managers of regulatory practice, he is committed to supporting members facing ethical dilemmas as well as educating members on the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics.

Sheryl Pearson After a career in social work, law and policy consulting, Sheryl was hired as one of two managers of regulatory practice with the ACSW in 2013. As one of the managers of regulatory practice, she is committed to supporting members facing ethical dilemmas as well as educating members on the Standards of Practice.

Saturday AM Keynote 28

Moving Beyond Client-Centered Care Todd Leader, RPsych, RSW Social workers and allied professions work with a wide variety of people including those with addiction and mental health challenges. However, they often feel a disconnect between their training/desire to provide client-centred care, and the restrictions imposed by policies, procedures, and structures of the system and organizational culture they work in. In this presentation, social worker and psychologist Todd Leader will describe the difference between clientcentred ‘care’ and client-centred ‘systems’. He will challenge us to view these concepts in a different way, and to identify how we can use that distinction to directly enhance the experience and well-being of the people we serve.

Todd’s approach, based on real-life success transforming an addiction and mental health program, is documented in his book, “It’s Not About Us: The Secret to Transforming the Mental Health and Addiction System in Canada”. This keynote address is sure to empower us to approach our work with a new sense of creativity and optimism.

Todd Leader Todd Leader is a registered social worker and a registered psychologist with a 29-year career as a multiple awardwinning transformational leader in healthcare, including the areas of primary care, chronic disease management, addiction and mental health, health promotion, and community engagement. He has also been a multiple awardwinning member of the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University since 1990. Todd has been the president of the Public Health Association of Nova Scotia, president of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia, a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Public Health Association, a member of the Nova Scotia Ministerial Advisory Panel on Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions, and is currently vice president of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. Todd’s 2016 book, “It’s Not About Us: The Secret to Transforming the Mental Health and Addiction System in Canada” continues to influence client-centred system change across the country.

Saturday AM 29 The Future Leadership of Health and Social Services in Canada Todd Leader, RPsych, RSW In this workshop, social worker and psychologist Todd Leader will discuss common concerns regarding the provision of public services in Canada. He will examine what the public is demanding of us as leaders. The future of fields like social services, and addiction and mental health, must and will look fundamentally different in the years to come, in order to make any gains in the well-being of our population. The nature of those fundamental changes will require a paradigm shift in what we deem to be effective leadership in this field. It's time to embrace the kind of leadership change that's needed for the future, execute the major foundational changes needed in our systems, and create a healthier population and a healthier next generation. This is where theory and tradition end, and transformational change begins.

Todd Leader Todd Leader is a registered social worker and a registered psychologist with a 29-year career as a multiple awardwinning transformational leader in healthcare, including the areas of primary care, chronic disease management, addiction and mental health, health promotion, and community engagement. He has also been a multiple awardwinning member of the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University since 1990. Todd has been the president of the Public Health Association of Nova Scotia, president of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia, a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Public Health Association, a member of the Nova Scotia Ministerial Advisory

Panel on Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions, and is currently vice president of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. Todd’s 2016 book, “It’s Not About Us: The Secret to Transforming the Mental Health and Addiction System in Canada” continues to influence client-centred system change across the country.

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The Limits of Jordan's Principle - An Ethical Mandate for Social Work Practice Audra Foggin, MSW, RSW Peter Choate, PhD, MSW, RCSW Chris Tortorelli, RSW, BA, MA Following a tortuous pathway, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and other parties have led the charge for the implementation of Jordan's Principle. How does social work fit in?

Audra Foggin Audra Foggin, originally from Frog Lake Nation, is an assistant professor at Mount Royal University, in the Department of Child Studies and Social Work. Her career has consisted of working in child welfare in Designated First Nation Authorities, group homes, long term care facilities and in the non-profit sector. Her main focus and passion is Indigenous education, social work and social justice issues. Audra is a mother of three children and grandmother to one. Audra is also a "Sixties Scoop Survivor".

Peter Choate Peter Choate is a registered clinical social worker, an approved clinical supervisor for the Alberta College of Social Workers and an associate professor at Mount Royal University, Department of Child Studies and Social Work. He also serves as Field Director for Practicum. His particular emphasis is on assessing parenting capacity (with specialties in mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and addictions) and child and adolescent mental health including maltreatment, neglect and abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and these issues within family systems. His research focus is on the intersection between Indigenous peoples and the child welfare system.

Chris Tortorelli Christina Tortorelli is an assistant professor at Mount Royal University (MRU), Department of Child Studies and Social Work. Prior to joining MRU, she was an associate director with Children's Services in Alberta where she led portfolios related to mental health, addictions, disabilities, children who are medically complex, and the prevention of domestic violence. She also has significant experience in policy and practice across the domains of child intervention/child welfare. Christina has a strong interest in trans-disciplinary collaborative practice, innovation in service delivery, trauma and the impact of resilience on the human condition.

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Claiming Their Future: Empowerment Strategies for Children in Poverty Rita Yembilah, PhD Margot McKinnon, PhD Derek Cook, RSW, BA, MA Explore strategies to elevate children’s control over shaping an identity, living their passions, finding meaning and purpose, and developing connection and belonging in their community.

Rita Yembilah Dr. Rita Yembilah joined the Canadian Poverty Institute in 2016 to lead the research on re-conceptualizing the notion of child poverty for practice in Calgary. Over the years, she has worked as a teacher at a rural elementary school, a library assistant; a Livelihoods Development Consultant and rep. for SmartKids Ghana, a program that supports gifted poor children to remain in school. She obtained her PhD and Master’s degrees from the University of Calgary and a BA First Class Honours from the University of Ghana, Accra.

Margot McKinnon Dr. Margot McKinnon earned her PhD from the University of Oxford with a thesis on how to include the concept of spirituality in Alberta public schools. Having taught nearly 5000 teenagers in her career, Margot focuses on at-risk

students, mental health, child poverty, and inclusion. She is author of the book “The Body, Mind, Spirit, Soul, Oneness Dominance Theory: A guide to elevating your 5 dimensions of self.”

Derek Cook Derek Cook is a registered social worker with over 30 year’s experience advocating at a policy and practical level for poverty and well-being issues involving vulnerable and marginalized groups. As director of the Canadian Poverty Institute, Derek oversaw the “Multidimensional Definition of Child Poverty Project.” The Canadian Poverty Institute is now working in various ways with an array of similarly-positioned collaborators to enhance responses to child poverty and impoverishment.

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Bravely Engaging: Breaking Down Barriers Carrie McManus, SW Dip, RSW Amy Munroe, SW Dip, RSW In a world that feels progressively polarizing, we will demonstrate the power of brave engagement as a way to move away from viewing the world in dichotomies.

Carrie McManus Carrie McManus is the Director of Programs at Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society and a respected member of the domestic violence sector in Alberta. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University in Halifax and a Diploma of Social Work from Mount Royal University in Calgary. Carrie has worked for over 15 years in strategic and program development, small business management, facilitation and education. Carrie has a passion for innovation and exploration, and has focused her career on expanding Sagesse programming to meet the diverse needs of those impacted by domestic violence.

Amy Munroe Amy Munroe is the Direct Service Team Lead at Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society. Amy completed her education at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Amy found her passion working with people at the intersection of domestic violence and the power of working within the peer support model. Amy is dedicated to the mission of ending domestic violence in Alberta.

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Low Barrier Social Work Practice Kayla Das, BSW, RSW, BRec What is a low barrier practice and how can you incorporate it into your practice? A macro level approach in family violence shelters will be explored.

Kayla Das Kayla is passionate about social and public policies and how policies impact social work practice. Kayla is the Executive Director at the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation in Morinville, AB, an organization supporting families who have experienced family violence. Kayla has work experience in the family violence, homelessness and mental health sectors. Kayla has two bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation and a Bachelor of Social Work.

Kayla is also currently completing a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Kayla is currently completing her MSW placement with the Alberta College of Social Workers.

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Breaking the Silence: A Dialogue for Children of Incarcerated Parents Dennis Whitford, MSW, RSW Barbara Pickering, Provisional Psychologist, MSc, PhD (c) Counselling Psychology Children affected by parental incarceration are an invisible, vulnerable population that experiences long-term psychological, social and economic disadvantages. Together we can listen, learn, and act.

Dennis Whitford Dennis Whitford worked at Alberta Child and Family Services for 27 years as a caseworker, supervisor, policy specialist and manager. Since retiring four years ago, he has continued in the social work profession as a Gladue report writer, providing pre-sentence reports for Indigenous people charged with criminal offenses. He also serves as an Appeal Panel member for those denied Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) benefits. Dennis is active in various community service roles including, president of Sagitawa Friendship Society, member of the national Church Council on Justice and Corrections, member of the Canadian Coalition for Children of Incarcerated Parents and Archdiocesan Indigenous Committee lead for the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan.

Barbara Pickering Barbara is a PhD Candidate in Counselling Psychology at the University of Calgary. She is presently engaged in research to change how children with incarcerated parents are supported. She is a member of the Canadian Coalition for Children of Incarcerated Parents and continues to work alongside the participants in her study as they develop a documentary based on their experiences. Additionally, she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in psychology and counselling. She is a provisional psychologist and a Certified Canadian Counsellor.

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Ctrl-Alt-Delete: Mind Reset Charles Chenard, BSW, RSW, MPS, CCC, ATS Practice and learn ways to reset the mind by using mindfulness and self-compassion exercises. Learn how to transform a preoccupied mind into a quiet mind.

Charles Chenard Charles likes to promote self-care, self-compassion and mindfulness in his personal and professional life. His master’s degree thesis was entitled "The Art of Compassion", promoting mindfulness, art reflection and self-compassion. He has offered a number of workshops promoting a better self-care for social workers.

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Exploring the Social Determinants of Health: Homelessness Within Hospitals Layla Aschenmeier, MSW, RSW Esther Leung, MSW, RSW This presentation will focus on addressing some common misconceptions and beliefs that inform healthcare practices with respect to homeless patients.

Layla Aschenmeier Layna is a Michif woman who currently is working as a registered social worker at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, a hospital within the inner city of Edmonton. She has over twenty years of experience working within the social work field. She is part of a small group of social workers who were recently awarded grant funds to focus on building an evidence-based case for increased housing supports for homeless patients.

Esther Leung Esther is a social worker for the Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) team, focusing on providing consultation services for inpatients and outpatients at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. She has been recognized for her contributions to affordable housing and ending homelessness in Edmonton and has presented at a number of conferences and workshops on topics including harm reduction, social determinants of health, alternative decisionmaking, and evidence-based holistic care. Through her work she has gained a strong knowledge of working with the inner city population to address issues surrounding addictions, mental health concerns and social determinants of health.

Saturday PM 37 Supervision in Clinical Social Work Practice Stephanie Bozzer, MSW, RCSW, REAT, CPT Rebecca Stares, MSW, RCSW Supervision is an integral part of ensuring ethical best practice. Engage in looking at your current supervision practice and develop new ideas and techniques to get the most out of supervision.

Stephanie Bozzer Stephanie Bozzer is currently working in private practice and specializes in working with children and adolescents with mental health disorders. Stephanie has worked in child welfare as a case manager, the school system as an emotional behavioural therapist, and with CASA and Alberta Health Services in school aged services as a mental health therapist. She is on the clinical registry and has the designation for supervision. She provides individual and group supervision to social workers who are applicants to the Clinical Social Work registry. Stephanie is also a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist and a Certified Play Therapist and she has been involved in supervision sessions with specialists in these areas for the past five years.

Rebecca Stares Rebecca Stares is a registered clinical social worker specializing in mental health interventions using equine-assisted therapy. Rebecca has been in private practice for the last 10 years, working as both a clinician and a social work supervisor in Calgary and area. In addition to her clinical work, Rebecca is currently completing her PhD with the University of Calgary.

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Treating the Psychological Injury of Workplace Bullying and Harassment Linda Crockett, MSW, RSW, SEP Dr. Pat Ferris, MSW, RSW, MSc, PhD Mental health professionals recognize bullying as a difficult to treat psychosocial stressor. Many who suffer serious impact from workplace bullying are unable to work and many destroy their lives through severe rumination which keeps them activated and symptomatic.

Linda Crockett Linda Crockett is a certified trauma therapist treating targets and perpetrators of workplace bullying. Linda is the first in Canada to offer an award-winning full-time service for employers and employees impacted by workplace bullying.

She provides organizations and individuals with needs assessments, consultations, leadership and staff training, and coaching. She also provides short or long-term counselling for complainants, witnesses or respondents. This includes supporting those on short or long-term disability, including those on WCB. Linda has trained and mentored workplace investigators, mediators, human resources, OHS, unions, regulatory bodies, non-profits and more. She combines her passion for this topic with her extensive education and training background, and hands-on work experience with thousands of employees. Her diverse combination of skills has been most effective for promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. To further support workers in Alberta, Linda has been an activist lobbying for changes in legislation. She is also a published author, international speaker, alumni of the Workplace Bullying Institute, and current member of the International Association on Workplace Bullying and Harassment.

Pat Ferris Pat Ferris has treated targets and perpetrators of workplace bullying for over 20 years and is now a noted expert in treatment of both. She has been active in researching workplace bullying from the organizational, target, and professional service provider perspectives for more than 20 years. Pat’s work has been published in top tier journals and she has three chapters in an upcoming handbook on workplace bullying, two on treatment and one on policy development. She has been the co-convener of the International Association on Workplace Bullying and Harassment (IAWBH) Therapist Special Interest Group (SIG) for almost a decade along with Evelyn Field of Bully Blocking in Australia. In this role, she guides international therapists on protocols for treatment. She has provided numerous keynote and other educational presentations at IAWBH and other conferences, and assisted in running the Therapist

SIG day in the past four IAWBH conferences. Pat organized the first Master Class of the IAWBH in 2015 in Calgary. The conference focused on the treatment of targets of workplace bullying.

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Healing Anger for Aboriginal Women: Moving Beyond Anger Management Kathleen Gorman, MSW, RSW, BSC, LLM, CTTS, SEP Jean Tait, professional member of Canadian Art Therapy Association and American Art Therapy Association The Healing Anger for Aboriginal Women program is a culturally responsive approach to address historical/intergenerational trauma. This experiential workshop includes narrative and expressive arts.

Kathleen Gorman Kathleen is of Irish and Maliseet descent and follows Mohawk teachings after her adoption into a Mohawk family. She has worked in the fields of trauma, mental health/addictions, and domestic/sexual violence for more than 38 years.

She is an MSW in clinical practice, a Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist, and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner.

Kathleen is a sessional instructor for the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work and social work field coordinator/sessional at MacEwan University, provides individual/group counselling at Aboriginal Counseling Services and has a private practice. She has presented internationally on many topics including trauma-informed care, selfcare and vicarious trauma, and impacts of colonization.

Jean Tait Jean is Saulteaux (Ojibwe), a member of the Berens River First Nation in Manitoba and an art therapist in private practice for the past 10 years at Art Can Heal in Spruce Grove. Jean assists women in sparking creative solutions to life’s challenges through the power of using art as a way of communicating when words are not enough. Jean’s own paintings have centered on symbolism in rock art (petroglyphs and pictographs). In her private practice, Jean also provides workshops that address a range of areas including depression and addictions. Jean is co-facilitator for the Healing Anger Program for Aboriginal Women.

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Practice as Ceremony Lloyd Yellowbird Christie Pace Practice as Ceremony are sacred teachings that guide service providers and families to a place of connectedness. It allows a sense of belonging and spirituality. We will explore these teachings.

Lloyd Yellowbird Lloyd is a five-year senior manager working with the cultural teams at the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.

Lloyd is a powwow dancer and toured the world from 1987 to2001 with a dance company from New York City. Bent Arrow engages in a model of practice that focuses on community and family, and what the roles are for each person.

This model helps families and service providers work together knowing their roles and responsibilities. Lloyd values this practice and the meaning it represents.

Christie Pace Christie has worked in many areas of the human services field and worn many hats during her 21-year career with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society. Christie started out as a youth worker in the group homes, a teacher’s aide in the White Cloud Head Start Program, and a home visitor with the Healthy Families Program. Currently, Christie is the supervisor of the Practice as Ceremony Cultural Supports Services Program, focusing on providing education and teachings to community partners and service providers on Indigenous culture, traditions and values.

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Bridging Best Practice: Neuropsychology and Social Work, Connecting for Clients Belinda J. Snow, BSW, RSW, BA(Psyc) Dr. Mark W. Lewis, PhD (Clinical Neuropsychology)

This workshop will educate social workers about neuropsychology, and its applications from cradle to grave. We’ll discuss brain injury, developmental disabilities, dementia, and provide time for Q & A. Belinda J. Snow Belinda comes from Aotearoa/New Zealand. Her first degree was in psychology, awarded in 2005. While working as a psychometrist at the Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury (HJCBI) in Ponoka for six years, she graduated with distinction from the University of Calgary in 2016. Passionate about research, she was involved in many interdisciplinary projects at HJCBI. She is particularly dedicated to women’s and children’s health; for her BSW, she pursued a research practicum with Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association and Red Deer College, and a placement at Wetaskiwin Children’s Services. Belinda now runs a private practice, Lewis Neuropsychology Inc. Dr. Mark W. Lewis Dr. Lewis completed a PhD in clinical neuropsychology in 2010, and has worked and completed research in a variety of areas within the field since this time, including intellectual disability, brain injury and pediatric through to adult and seniors’ health. Alongside business partner Belinda Snow, Dr. Lewis provides neuropsychological assessment services, but also consults, providing professional development to individuals and organizations who are seeking to better understand mental health and brain injury.

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Working with Complex Client Populations in Continuing Care Scott Stewart, MSW, RSW, DCA This workshop offers an opportunity for participants to learn more about complex client populations in continuing care and to discuss the challenges inherent in working with these groups.

Scott Stewart Scott Stewart is an experienced health care social worker, designated capacity assessor and post-secondary instructor. For the past 14 years, he has worked at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre, with the majority of his practice focused on the Enhanced Support (Complex Care) Unit, a program that provides specialized continuing care to individuals whose medical and/or psychological conditions preclude admission to a regular long-term care environment. Several populations have presented particular challenges for the Enhanced Support Unit, including clients: with personality disorders; struggling with addiction; with persistent and severe agitation/aggression; and presenting with criminality or a forensic designation. The need for better understanding and practice options for individuals struggling with these concerns was the impetus for the creation of this presentation.

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Exploring Forensic Social Work: A Discussion of the Challenges and Rewards Daphne Hellman, MSW, RSW, BA Meela Gunawardena, BSW, RSW Tara-Leigh Blankenstein, MSW, RSW, BA, MALM Tamara Valstar, MSW, RSW, BA This presentation introduces participants to a range of career options within this specialized area of practice, followed by round table discussion to connect and explore the challenges and rewards of this field.

Daphne Hellman Daphne has over 30 years of experience in the human services field, including children’s services, youth probation, gang intervention, forensic assessment and currently, with the District Police and Crisis Team, a partnership between Alberta Health Services and the Calgary Police Service. As a member of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, Daphne has remained connected to forensic social work practice in Canada and the USA and is committed to raising the profile of forensic social work in Alberta. She holds undergraduate degrees in sociology (concentration criminology) and social work, and a graduate degree in social work.

Meela Gunawardena Meela Gunawardena is a Youth Justice social worker with the City of Calgary in the Youth At Risk Development Program (YARD). Meela has been involved in the field of forensic social work for over 10 years, having worked as a youth probation officer prior to YARD. Meela holds a BSW from Thompson Rivers University.

Tara-Leigh Blankenstein Tara-Leigh Blankenstein has over 25 years of experience working in corrections and forensic psychiatry. Her experience consists of group co-facilitation for sexual offenders within a correctional institution, psychometrics and specialized assessment in forensics, and the assessment and treatment of youth and adolescents within urban and rural clinics. Tara-Leigh holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and social work and graduate degrees in social work and leadership and management. She is a member of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work and the Alberta College of Social Work. Currently, Tara-Leigh is a sessional instructor with the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work’s Community-Based Learning Circles and part-time at Red Deer College’s Justice Studies program and Faculty of Social Work. She is currently in private practice.

Tamara Valstar Tamara is a mental health clinician with Calgary Diversion Service, a forensic psychiatry division of Alberta Health Services. Her practice background spans over 20 years of frontline service in forensic social work, including probation, victim advocacy, domestic violence, and inpatient and outpatient forensic psychiatry. She holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and social work, and a master’s degree in social work (University of Calgary). She was involved with the planning and implementation of Calgary’s Specialized Domestic Violence Court, serves as a director with the Alberta Criminal Justice Association, and is a sessional instructor with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work, Learning Circles.

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Processing Addiction and Childhood Trauma with Congruence Couple Therapy Bonnie Lee, MSW, RSW, HBSc, PhD Korie-Lyn Northey, RSW, BA This interactive workshop presents an evidence-based, integrative model of couple therapy to process childhood trauma and addiction in four dimensions of individual and relationship functioning.

Bonnie Lee Bonnie Lee is an associate professor in Health Sciences (Addictions Counselling) at the University of Lethbridge. A Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (Alberta Division), she is the principal investigator in a decade of research that developed the theory and evidence base to congruence couple therapy applied to addiction and mental health. In recognition of her international leadership in bringing in a couple therapy approach to addiction treatment, she was awarded the University Board of Governors Research Chair (Tier II).

Korie-Lyn Northey Korie-Lyn Northey works for Alberta Health Services as a community addiction services administrator and a counselling supervisor in a residential treatment program. She collaborated with Dr. Bonnie Lee in a research study of congruence couple therapy for alcohol and gambling clients. She is a registered social worker and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Alberta, and a Community Addictions Training Certificate through Nechi Institute on alcohol and drug education. Korie-Lyn is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and a descendant of Michel First Nation.

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Understanding Dementia and Supporting Families on the Journey with Dementia Barbara Beattie, BSW, RSW, BA Kendra Sutherland, BSW, RSW Increase your knowledge of dementia and learn strategies to support the person living with dementia and their families. Hear about Alzheimer Society resources and how to connect families to supports.

Barbara Beattie Barb received a BSW from the University of Manitoba. Barb is a First Link Coordinator at the Alzheimer Society and as part of that role, facilitates a support group, the Family Learning Series and provides community education. Barb has family experience with dementia and has worked with the Alzheimer Society since January 2017.

Kendra Sutherland Kendra received a BSW from MacEwan University. Kendra is a program coordinator at the Alzheimer Society and as part of that role facilitates a support group, the Family Learning Series and provides community education. Kendra has family experience with dementia and has worked for the Alzheimer Society since June 2014.

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Playing Around with Self-Care Ann Reilly, MSW, RCSW, RPT-S, CPT Playing Around with Self-Care is an experiential clinical workshop designed with therapeutic play interventions for social workers to develop self-care plans.

Ann Reilly Ann Reilly is a clinical social worker and supervisor, registered play therapy supervisor (Association for Play Therapy) and certified play therapist (Canadian Association for Play Therapy), and is an approved provider of play therapy training for both organizations. Ann is author of the therapeutic children’s book, “The Beast and the Salt Water Potion”. Ann is a former instructor for the University of Calgary, BSW Learning Circles and former member of the ACSW Clinical Committee. Ann manages her own private therapy practice in Edmonton and provides clinical supervision and consultation to professionals working therapeutically with children and adults.

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A Personal Exploration of the Continuing Competence Program Bruce Llewellyn, MSW, RSW Suzanne MacKinnon, MSW, RCSW Kathleen Lidbetter The Continuing Competence Program is dynamic in its nature. You will learn about the history, legislative background and current requirements that supports social workers. We will guide you through the annual portfolio and you will learn user-friendly updates.

Bruce Llewellyn Bruce joined the Alberta Association of Social Workers in 1984. After retiring from government service, he joined the ACSW as a staff member in October 2013. As one of the Managers of Regulatory Practice, he is committed to supporting members facing challenges maintaining their competency as well as educating members on the Continuing Competence Program.

Suzanne MacKinnon Suzanne studied social work at Jane Addams College of Social Work in Chicago and has worked in forensic clinical social work and community development in Colorado and British Columbia. She takes particular interest in nontraditional social work and multi-disciplinary collaborative practice to improve the functioning of individuals, families, systems and society. Suzanne is the associate registrar at the Alberta College of Social Workers, and is excited to share her passion and experience with others.

Kathleen Lidbetter Kathleen joined the Alberta College of Social Workers administrative support team in July 2019. She brings more than two decades of experience supporting social work students in gaining their academic credentials at York University.

Kathleen currently supports registered social workers by tracking and maintaining competence requirements, in addition to providing technical support regarding the ACSW continuing competence program.

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Teaching Sweat Lodge Ceremony – The Sacred Place Off-Site, Enoch Cree Nation Elder Dr. Leona Makokis Participants will be guided and supported to explore the meaning and importance of the sweat lodge. Unlike other traditional ceremonies this is a teaching sweat lodge. It is intended for those who have not had the opportunity to experience a sweat lodge ceremony. We acknowledge the many diverse Indigenous cultures in Alberta. This workshop’s teachings will follow a Cree worldview.

Leona Makokis Dr. Leona Makokis is a Cree Elder in northeast Alberta and past President of University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills which is situated in a former Indian Residential School near St. Paul, Alberta and which Leona attended as a child. Leona has extensive teaching and research experience with a focus on leadership and language revitalization. She is a trainer and consultant on cross-sectoral initiatives to restore Indigenous knowledge and practice.

Important notes: • This workshop is offered on Saturday afternoon off-site at Enoch Cree Nation and it is expected that you arrive to the lodge by 1:30pm. Due to the nature of a sweat lodge ceremony, this workshop will extend beyond 4:30pm.

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Participants are offered the opportunity to be inside the sweat lodge, but this is not mandatory. If you are uncomfortable in the lodge, teachings can be provided outside of the lodge.

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Travel time by car is about 20 minutes from the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Centre. Participants will be provided with a map and there will be some markers to easily find the site.

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This sweat lodge will be held on a community member’s property. They have graciously opened their home to allow participants a space to change and use the washroom.

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Participants will receive a package of information prior to the conference outlining what you are to bring and how to prepare.